UPDATE –
When you read the post below, bear in mind that we found out in June ’25 the outcome of the investigation and prosecution after the appalling events of April 24.
During trial at the Old Bailey, Marcus Monzo put forward a partial defence of diminished responsibility to the charge of murder. The jury have dismissed this suggestion, finding him guilty of murder and he will be sentenced to life imprisonment later in the year where we will learn the tariff to be applied. The main reason for this was the reality he was psychotic because of voluntary intoxication of cannabis and the law treats that the same as drunkeness.
This incident was *not* mental health related – it was a violent young man who chose to take drugs.
The tragedy in Hainault is unimaginable and I’m really trying to comprehend what the family of the fourteen year old victim must be going through. I doubt much can help, but I hope they’re getting whatever the country can give them in support. My second thoughts around this were for the two injured police officers who have been hospitalised and require surgery. We know a police inspector has suffered a serious hand injury and that a female constable almost lost her hand and surgeons spent hours building it back together and she potentially faces years of recovery — they are the best of us.
It’s not that they are any more important victims than the other two who were injured, it’s just worth noting we realise how they were injured running towards the danger, rather than away from it. I wish all four injured victims well.
SOCIAL MEDIA
It took minutes for speculation to start on social media, despite the pleas of the police in their first press release to avoid speculation. Inevitably, that speculation included postulation about whether the arrested man had mental health problems and / or any previous contact with the police. As with a number of posts on this site, I’m also cautioning against the speculation for a variety of reasons and I’m doing this with an open mind – maybe that is relevant here, but the point is we just don’t know.
The police have been investigating this for less than 24hrs at the point where I wrote this post and by the point of publication, the police and CPS have charged a man with murder, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article in public – he has appeared in court and is due to face his first Crown Court appearance either today or early next week. Detectives will still be exploring everything relevant about the offender’s background but the charging and early court process has not yet said anything about his mental health either.
But the main reasons speculation is unhelpful include —
- The fact we don’t know – we simply do not know what’s gone or what lies behind this.
- Even if it is established an offender has a history of mental health problems, that doesn’t mean those problems caused or even contributed to the offending.
- Read my last post about the recent inquests in Reading to see reference to a Crown Court judge pointing out a history of mental health problems and contact with mental health services was not related to the events and criminal liability of the attacker.
- Even if it is established someone has a mental health problem, it will take detailed reports after psychiatric evaluation before trial to untangle the relationship – if any – between health and crime.
- This is always the case – and if it does emerge MH is not a relevant factor, either at all or in terms of affecting liability for these events, it just stigmatises thousands of people who are living with complex mental health problems who are struggling through without committing serious violent offences.
- But the main one is this: we just don’t know so we might as well stop guessing because it won’t undo the tragedy of yesterday and it won’t change the process which will eventually unfold in front of us all.
LET THE PROCESS RUN
The time to discuss this will be after the investigation and any subsequent legal process has happened – once facts are known. The detectives involved won’t fully know the facts yet, because it’s about a day old at the point of writing.
It’s for that very reason I was very disappointed to see a prominent article in the Guardian this morning extensively quoting the London Mayor who is talking exclusively about the importance and complexity of mental health including those who have committed serious offences whilst unwell. For him to be talking like this when the offender is still in police custody under arrest and not yet charged with any offence or even questioned about it all, means he’s hinting at a public policy issue and either inherently speculating, just as people have been asked not to do on social media, or he’s hinting at what he’s been told by the police during an active criminal investigation which has its own potentially obvious consequences.
Within, Mr Khan has said if re-elected he would “treat mental health like a public health issue”. Is that because it literally is a public health issue and always has been?! I’m not sure how else you would treat it, quite honestly and many mental health bodies, professionals and charities have been calling for this for decades! But it’s a revelation to learn we mustn’t have done this so far – that would explain a lot, quite honestly.
But as for Hainault, you know what I think? – I think it doesn’t matter what I think because I’ve no idea (yet) what actually happened or what the background is … and neither do you.
Winner of the President’s Medal, the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Winner of the Mind Digital Media Award
All opinions expressed are my own – they do not represent the views of any organisation. (c) Michael Brown, 2024
I try to keep this blog up to date, but inevitably over time, amendments to the law as well as court rulings and other findings from inquests and complaints processes mean it is difficult to ensure all the articles and pages remain current. Please ensure you check all legal issues in particular and take appropriate professional advice where necessary.
Government legislation website – www.legislation.gov.uk
Mental Health Cop 